Favorite Candidates - Stevenson

As I have mentioned in previous blog entries, Cyndi Stevenson has a clear record of taking a thoughtful and independent approach to all issues brought before the County Commission. Is she perfect? No. No one is. Does she listen to the issues and try to make the best decisions? Yes. Even if this means that she ultimately decides to change her mind on a particular issue.

She has continued to take the high road during this campaign even though her opponent has chosen to attack her on all fronts with many false and misleading assaults on Cyndi Stevenson's voting record and campaign contributions.

This really makes me wonder where he is coming from. The answer that I continue to come to is that Abbattello is desparate to distract the voters from focusing on the clear differences in their qualifications and Cyndi's true strengths.

Rather than focusing on these elementary attacks on a genuinely good person who continuously tries to do her best for all of the citizens of St Johns County, let's focus on the TRUE differences.

Here is one to consider:

In Abbatiello’s printed literature he states that he is opposed to private contractors building roads and wants to reduce public/private projects.

If he is elected and successfully implements this proposal, taxes will have to be increased by many millions of dollars for future improvements.

Four lane roads cost approximately $2,000 000.00 per mile to build. The County Commission has been undertaking the practice of negotiating with developers to build roads, fire stations, schools, libraries and other necessities that service their prospective communities. In addition, these infrastructure improvements must be provided UP FRONT, whether or not a single house is actually built. If this practice is stopped, home owners county wide will have to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars in additional taxes to build the roads and other needed infrastructure improvements. Had the Commission not taken this tact of extracting infrastructure improvements on projects that had met all legal requirements, many of the new roads, parks and other infrastructure improvement that we currently enjoy, would not be there today.

Here is another to consider:

Although Al claims to be against growth, he has actually promoted and profited from the real estate growth. Both Al and his wife are Realtors. They have been making their living from the growth in the Northwestern portion of the County. It has put bread on his table. To claim that he is against growth is definitely disingenuous. Had the big, bad developers not developed the lots where the houses were built, he would not have had any houses to sell. That includes the home in which he lives.

Here is yet another:

The only real item on his campaign platform is to form Citizen Groups throughout the County. Last time I checked, there already are Citizen Groups in many areas throughout the County. Why not leverage groups that are already in place rather than spending the effort of County staff to create, appoint and monitor these groups? Seems to me this would create extra cost out of the already tight County budget. Makes more sense to me to spend this money on social services and other necessities.

Just say NO to Abbatiello.

Say YES to Stevenson and her thoughtful, independent and honest approach!